Risban
11-10-2005, 23:09
[OOC: Alright. So, this is a continuation of the Fall From Glory: An Empire's Twilight series. This is the climax, involving the death of Emperor Robinson Antares Scorpius "the Great" of the Grand Imperium of Risban, and the total collapse of the Imperial Government into full civil war.
To understand, you MUST at least skim the topics located in the OOC Thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=429417), ESPECIALLY the following: An Empire's Twilight (Main Thread), Corruption of the Imperial Parliament, Assasination Attempt on the Emperor, and Endgame.
They aren't that long. Please read. I ask that OOC comments/questions/concerns please be addressed in the OOC Thread.
Also, here is a timeline (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=9579638#post9579638) that you can refer to if you wish to.
ANYONE with relations to Risban or an embassy in Risban WILL be affected by this. The reason will come later on in the thread.
Furthermore, for all those involved with the AMF/Praetonian War right now, this will sort of affect Risban's participation in the war (which, until now, has been completely neutral due to have friends on both sides.)
I ask that those with strong relations to Risban post government responses, people's reactions, etc if they have the time.
Thank you.]
Emperor Robinson Antares Scorpius was the second youngest leader of Risban in the nation's history, taking the Imperial Throne at the young age of twenty-one. He was also considered to be the greatest in the Grand Imperium's history, bringing Risban to what many have called a Golden Age. Under him, alliances, relations, and trade with nations throughout the world had increased. Risban emerged as a world power, with representation in many various organizations. The population had increased dramatically, nearly reaching two billion people at this point in time. Civil rights had flourished, and the economy became, and still is, the strongest in the Consortium of Shadows, a region under the dominance of Risbanian foreign affairs.
And yet, disaster befell Risban. There were those who did not like this new Emperor's ways, particularly several members of the Imperial Chambers of Aristocracy in Parliament, who disagreed with the civil rights and freedoms granted to the populace and the lowering of taxes that once filled their own pockets. Furthermore, they feared the Emperor's power. Scorpius had married the Countess Nora Courtney, the youngest person to ever reign as Chancellor of the Imperial Parliament, and the only woman to ever do so. For these reasons, it was quite easy for a group of men to twist around the politics of the Grand Imperium. Nora Courtney was removed from power through a political coup by a one Lord Richard Gaius Zorag, who then became Lord Chancellor. The Plebicola of the Senate, Senator Nathan Gomez, and the Chiliarches of the House of Aristocracy, Duke Sargas Caecus Lesath, were also ousted and replaced by those loyal to Lord Zorag... Those who were members of an elite undercover group known as the Society of Shadows.
When Zorag ascened to power, he immediately began convincing Parliament to overturn some of the ruling made by the Emperor Scorpius. He also removed from the Chambers of Parliament a group known as the Lictors; the Lictors were warrior members of the ancient Order of the Scorpion who served as the Imperial High Guards of the Empire, protecting the Emperor, members of the Aristocracy and Parliament, ambassadors, and government buildings. The secretive and exclusive group had done so for centuries. Now, they were removed from the Parliament and all government buildings, except the Officers of the Emperor. They were replaced by military soldiers and police, the majority loyal to members of this Society of Shadows...
Then, recently, terror struck. The Prometheus Agency, the name of the Risban Imperial Ministry of Intelligence, one of the most renowned intelligence organizations in the world and based in a bunker somewhere beneath Imperial Palace, was destroyed from within. Hundreds died in the explosion, wiping out the majority of Risban's spies, assasins, and intelligence officers, as the majority of them had been called back for a conference. Myles Abrams, the director of the agency, is reported to have died in the explosion, but his body was not recovered. In his absence, Marcus Janus, the Deputy Director of the agency (and a close friend of Lord Zorag's) took control of Risban's Intelligence. Around the same time, Cardinal James Kliptnock, the Religious Advisor to the Emperor and Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Risban, was shot to death in his own cathedral.
Amid the chaos, more military police began to roam the streets of Risban and her territories. Tanks rolled through the streets, and Blackhawk Helicopters were seen every now and then in the sky. Emperor Scorpius, the greatest Emperor in Risbanian history, was losing his power... And he could do nothing to stop it.
The Temple of the Order of the Scorpion, Risban
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
(Who Will Guard the Guardians?)
With chaos and violence engulfing Risban, the Emperor had ordered his wife, Empress Nora Courtney, and their now-3-year-old son, the Viscount Lucius Myles Scorpius, to seek refuge and stay within the Temple of the Order of the Scorpion, home to the Lictors. It was rumored to be the safest place in all Risban next to the Imperial Palace. However, what with the bunker of Risban Ministry of Intelligence exploding beneath Imperial Palace, the Temple began to look safer.
The structure was centuries of years old. It had withstood the test of time, the Priests of the Order of the Scorpion and the Lictors seeing to it that the building was constanly repaired and updated. It was a virtual fortress, with mounstrous steel and stone walls around the main structure by a three mile radius. Watch towers, laser fields, security cameras, motion sensors, armed patrols, guard dogs, gates, more walls, and much more protected this temple, the place where the Lictors trained and the Priests studied. In order to get by the main gate, one needed to be cleared. In order to enter the ancient Temple, one needed the password. Only a small amount of people knew the password, including all of the Lictors, the Emperor and the Grand Master of the Imperial High Guard (a high-level Lictor and member of the Imperial Army). Because of this, hardly anyone knew what the inside of the Temple was like.
The former Grand Master of the Imperial High Guard, Colonel Antonin Steele, was the first Grand Master to not be a member of the Order of the Scorpion. Alas, he ended up betraying the Emperor, aiding in kidnapping Scorpius during the General Lucas Rebellion. Thus, his replacement, Colonel Christopher Lucian, was a former Lictor. However, unbeknownest to the Lictors or the Emperor, the arm of the Society of Shadows had managed to reach the Lictors, hugging the Grand Master close to them....
Humvees and police cars passed through the main gates of the Lictor Stronghold, with one black limousine riding among them. From the eighteenth floor of the temple, Empress Nora Courtney watched as the vehicles drove in. She found it odd that Colonel Lucian would need so many ordinary soldiers escorting him to the safest place in Risban.
Christopher Lucian stepped out of the limo, smiling at the ten Lictors standing guard as the main door. They looked magnificent, as usual; Lictors, when not in an active combat zone, were armor similar to that of old Roman centurions, except it was silver with a green cape. Lucian walked up to the main door and uttered the password, his soldiers departing their vehicles behind them, earning sneers from several of the Priests and less-trained Lictors.
Antonius Plicius, the Door Keeper of the Temple of the Order of the Scorpion, opened the door when he heard Colonel Lucian give the password. "Sire! It is an honor to have you here," said Plicius, glancing at the soldiers behind them. "Might I inquire as to why you honor us with your presence tonight?"
"It is the dawn of a new age, my friend," smiled Lucian. "The Order of the Scorpion has long served the Grand Imperium of Risban. Now it is time to be repayed for their service."
Plicius frowned slightly, and released what was about to happen all too late. Lucian had quickly drawn a small pistol, shooting Plicius and the two Lictors behind the door guard, killing all three. The Lictors outside instantly rose to action, raising their ceremonial swords in one hand and reaching for their firearms with the others. But, they were too late as well. The soldiers accompanying Lucian quickly took out AK-47s, shooting the ten Lictors in friend and several other Priests walking by.
"Let's get 'em, boys," grinned Lucian, pulling out a cigar as his soldiers marched into the stronghold, opening fire. He turned around, watching as men appeared on the machine guns of the humvees, opening fire on the defenses of the stronghold. Tanks began firing at the walls.
Lesson Number One in the Order of the Scorpion: The best way to destroy an enemy is to destroy from within.
Lictors fought as bravely as they could, but with the doors wide open, their usual defenses were useless. And, it seemed as if a whole battalion of soldiers had decided to attack.
A group of Lictors assigned to protected the Empress and young Viscount quickly got the pair to the hangar of the stronghold. They were placed in a helicopter and immediately set off, escorted by a whole fleet of Blackhawks. They departed the area, going away from the troops and to a small, secret airfield not too far away. The Empress needed to leave the country.
Aut vincere aut mori...
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Risban City
Alexander Perkins was the most well-known Risbanian name in the international community next to Scorpius. He was the High Minister of Foreign Affairs, and responsible for much of what the world had done. He negotiated treaties with tons of nations, helped mediate in conflicts, expanded trade, and represented Risban to the international community. He was one of the Emperor's closest friends.
Lucius Thrantir was the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, and was likely to take the place as Minister of Trade soon. He was a younger man, moving quickly through the ranks of the Imperial bureacracy. Perkins trusted him, but Perkins trusted a lot of people; it was his character.
Perkins was sitting at his table, looking at recent reports on happenings in the Imperial Armies region, Green Sun, Upper Xen, and several other nations. Things had been busy lately.
Thrantir walked in, smiling. "G'evening, Minister," said the Undersecretary, placing a document on Perkins' desk.
"What's this?" asked the Foreign Minister as he picked up the document.
"Your suicide note, of course," chuckled Thrantir casually. Then, quite uncasually, he removed a silenced pistol from his jacket and shot Alexander Perkins, the High Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Grand Imperium of Risban, twice in the head.
Assasination of the Emperor
Imperial Palace, Risban City-- The Chambers of the Emperor
Emperor Scorpius paced back and forth between his bed and the desk in his room, thinking furiously. The young emperor had not received much sleep lately. He was constantly monitering internal affairs of Risban, the affairs of close allies, and this monstrous war between the mightiest forces in this world.
The world was becoming a dangerous place, and it was worrying the Emperor.
Scorpius sighed, sitting back on his bed and trying to relax. He needed to sleep. His wife kept telling him that whenever they spoke over the telephone, as did his personal doctor. But how could he sleep? Politicians, many of them friends, had been dying lately in terrorist attacks and assasinations. There had even been an attempt on the Emperor's life! Imperial Palace had been assaulted... There was no rest.
No. Stop thinking. Sleep, Scorpius told himself. He closed his eyes, sighing. Just as he was about to drift off, a buzzer rain. Scorpius groaned and opened his eyes, hitting a button on his bedstand. "Come in."
The Emperor stood, turning to face the door. In strode Lord Richard Gaius Zorag, Chancellor of the Senate, and Grand General Charles Skops, the head of the military. What could it be now? They were followed by two other men.
"Welcome, gentlemen," said the Emperor, not bothering to smile. "What's up?"
"We have a situation, my lord," said Zorag. "It appears that your Lictors have betrayed the Grand Imperium and moved to assasinate you."
Emperor Scorpius frowned, an angered expression crossing his face. "What are you talking about?"
The two men who entered with Skops and Zorag stepped forward, each removing a dagger; daggers with the inscriptions of the Order of the Scorpion on their sides.
Scorpius' eyes widened. This was it. The Endgame. He had failed. The two assasins leaped forward at the Emperor, who quickly rolled back to dodge. Scorpius opened a drawer, withdrawing a small pistol. As he brought his hand up to aim at the two, General Skops turned and kicked his hand, sending the gun flying.
"You! Charles, I trusted you... You were suppose to help me!"
The Grand General sneered. "Help you with what? Your 'dreams' and visions for the future? For grandness? Equality? Please, Robinson," said the General, stepping back.
Lord Zorag stood, hands folded behind his back. This man, the ringleader of the Society of Shadows, grinned, his eyes staring maliciously at the Emperor. "You see, Scorpius," began the usurper. "People like you are the problem with this world. You dream and dream, and build and build, and still dreaming, all the while exhausting the rest of us. In order for our own preserverence, the dreamers like you must die."
"For your own power, you mean," glared Scorpius.
"You do not fear your death?" asked Zorag, a dark twinkle in his eye.
"Pulvis et umbra sumus," said the Emperor, raising his head. "Omnis una manet nox. If I die, so do you."
"No, my friend, that is where you are wrong," said Zorag, walking to the window and opening it. Far in the distance, across the megalopolis known as Risban City, was smoke, rising high into the sky. It was coming from about where the Lictor Stronghold was. "You see, my liege, everything for the past several years has been carefully planned out, all leading up to this. The grand finale. You will die, and the Parliament will name me Emperor."
"My brother takes the throne in my absence," said Scorpius, referring to the Duke Magnus Scorpius, CEO of ScorpCorp and High Minister of Business and Industry. "Not you."
"Your brother was coincidentally sent on a boat to Retreat Island in the Imperial Armies region to help deal with defenses there," smiled Zorag. "He'll be having a little accident soon, I believe. Anyways, you, your wife, and your son will all be dead, the Lictors will be wiped out, and I'll be in charge."
Scorpius' eyes widened. "No! Zorag, if you lay a single finger on Nora or Lucius, I will-"
"What? Come back and haunt me from the grave? Hahaha... Goodbye, Scorpius," said Zorag, raising a hand to the two assasins. "Long live the Emperor."
The assasins plunged their daggers repeatedly into the Scorpius, who stumbled towards the balcony. He wanted to scream, but he couldn't. He wanted to reach out to his wife and son, but he could not. He wanted to tell his friends to run and watch out, but they would not hear his warning. He stared out at Risban City, tears filling his eyes. It wasn't supposed to end like this.
Lord Zorag, General Skops, and the others left the room. Marcus Janus had taken care of surveillance, making it seem as if they were never there.
And Emperor Robinson Antares Scorpius, the Savior of Risban, fell back onto the cold marble floor of his room. His blood crawled across the ground around him. The Emperor stared up at the ceiling, choking on his blood as it filled his throat, looking at a picture of Risban under Heaven. The usual brightness and hopefulness of the picture had seemed to vanish.
The young Emperor grunted once. And then there was no more pain.
There was nothing.
An initial report was given the next day. The story was that the Imperial Lictors, blaming Scorpius for their removal from most government buildings, had turned on the one they were supposed to protect and killed them. This was followed by an uprising at the Lictor Stronghold that Colonel Christopher Lucian had gone to stop, razing the ancient building to the ground. Furthermore, it was reported that, under enourmous pressure lately, Alexander Perkins, Minister for Foreign Affairs, committed suicide in his office.
Members of the government are to make statements soon.
To understand, you MUST at least skim the topics located in the OOC Thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=429417), ESPECIALLY the following: An Empire's Twilight (Main Thread), Corruption of the Imperial Parliament, Assasination Attempt on the Emperor, and Endgame.
They aren't that long. Please read. I ask that OOC comments/questions/concerns please be addressed in the OOC Thread.
Also, here is a timeline (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=9579638#post9579638) that you can refer to if you wish to.
ANYONE with relations to Risban or an embassy in Risban WILL be affected by this. The reason will come later on in the thread.
Furthermore, for all those involved with the AMF/Praetonian War right now, this will sort of affect Risban's participation in the war (which, until now, has been completely neutral due to have friends on both sides.)
I ask that those with strong relations to Risban post government responses, people's reactions, etc if they have the time.
Thank you.]
Emperor Robinson Antares Scorpius was the second youngest leader of Risban in the nation's history, taking the Imperial Throne at the young age of twenty-one. He was also considered to be the greatest in the Grand Imperium's history, bringing Risban to what many have called a Golden Age. Under him, alliances, relations, and trade with nations throughout the world had increased. Risban emerged as a world power, with representation in many various organizations. The population had increased dramatically, nearly reaching two billion people at this point in time. Civil rights had flourished, and the economy became, and still is, the strongest in the Consortium of Shadows, a region under the dominance of Risbanian foreign affairs.
And yet, disaster befell Risban. There were those who did not like this new Emperor's ways, particularly several members of the Imperial Chambers of Aristocracy in Parliament, who disagreed with the civil rights and freedoms granted to the populace and the lowering of taxes that once filled their own pockets. Furthermore, they feared the Emperor's power. Scorpius had married the Countess Nora Courtney, the youngest person to ever reign as Chancellor of the Imperial Parliament, and the only woman to ever do so. For these reasons, it was quite easy for a group of men to twist around the politics of the Grand Imperium. Nora Courtney was removed from power through a political coup by a one Lord Richard Gaius Zorag, who then became Lord Chancellor. The Plebicola of the Senate, Senator Nathan Gomez, and the Chiliarches of the House of Aristocracy, Duke Sargas Caecus Lesath, were also ousted and replaced by those loyal to Lord Zorag... Those who were members of an elite undercover group known as the Society of Shadows.
When Zorag ascened to power, he immediately began convincing Parliament to overturn some of the ruling made by the Emperor Scorpius. He also removed from the Chambers of Parliament a group known as the Lictors; the Lictors were warrior members of the ancient Order of the Scorpion who served as the Imperial High Guards of the Empire, protecting the Emperor, members of the Aristocracy and Parliament, ambassadors, and government buildings. The secretive and exclusive group had done so for centuries. Now, they were removed from the Parliament and all government buildings, except the Officers of the Emperor. They were replaced by military soldiers and police, the majority loyal to members of this Society of Shadows...
Then, recently, terror struck. The Prometheus Agency, the name of the Risban Imperial Ministry of Intelligence, one of the most renowned intelligence organizations in the world and based in a bunker somewhere beneath Imperial Palace, was destroyed from within. Hundreds died in the explosion, wiping out the majority of Risban's spies, assasins, and intelligence officers, as the majority of them had been called back for a conference. Myles Abrams, the director of the agency, is reported to have died in the explosion, but his body was not recovered. In his absence, Marcus Janus, the Deputy Director of the agency (and a close friend of Lord Zorag's) took control of Risban's Intelligence. Around the same time, Cardinal James Kliptnock, the Religious Advisor to the Emperor and Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Risban, was shot to death in his own cathedral.
Amid the chaos, more military police began to roam the streets of Risban and her territories. Tanks rolled through the streets, and Blackhawk Helicopters were seen every now and then in the sky. Emperor Scorpius, the greatest Emperor in Risbanian history, was losing his power... And he could do nothing to stop it.
The Temple of the Order of the Scorpion, Risban
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
(Who Will Guard the Guardians?)
With chaos and violence engulfing Risban, the Emperor had ordered his wife, Empress Nora Courtney, and their now-3-year-old son, the Viscount Lucius Myles Scorpius, to seek refuge and stay within the Temple of the Order of the Scorpion, home to the Lictors. It was rumored to be the safest place in all Risban next to the Imperial Palace. However, what with the bunker of Risban Ministry of Intelligence exploding beneath Imperial Palace, the Temple began to look safer.
The structure was centuries of years old. It had withstood the test of time, the Priests of the Order of the Scorpion and the Lictors seeing to it that the building was constanly repaired and updated. It was a virtual fortress, with mounstrous steel and stone walls around the main structure by a three mile radius. Watch towers, laser fields, security cameras, motion sensors, armed patrols, guard dogs, gates, more walls, and much more protected this temple, the place where the Lictors trained and the Priests studied. In order to get by the main gate, one needed to be cleared. In order to enter the ancient Temple, one needed the password. Only a small amount of people knew the password, including all of the Lictors, the Emperor and the Grand Master of the Imperial High Guard (a high-level Lictor and member of the Imperial Army). Because of this, hardly anyone knew what the inside of the Temple was like.
The former Grand Master of the Imperial High Guard, Colonel Antonin Steele, was the first Grand Master to not be a member of the Order of the Scorpion. Alas, he ended up betraying the Emperor, aiding in kidnapping Scorpius during the General Lucas Rebellion. Thus, his replacement, Colonel Christopher Lucian, was a former Lictor. However, unbeknownest to the Lictors or the Emperor, the arm of the Society of Shadows had managed to reach the Lictors, hugging the Grand Master close to them....
Humvees and police cars passed through the main gates of the Lictor Stronghold, with one black limousine riding among them. From the eighteenth floor of the temple, Empress Nora Courtney watched as the vehicles drove in. She found it odd that Colonel Lucian would need so many ordinary soldiers escorting him to the safest place in Risban.
Christopher Lucian stepped out of the limo, smiling at the ten Lictors standing guard as the main door. They looked magnificent, as usual; Lictors, when not in an active combat zone, were armor similar to that of old Roman centurions, except it was silver with a green cape. Lucian walked up to the main door and uttered the password, his soldiers departing their vehicles behind them, earning sneers from several of the Priests and less-trained Lictors.
Antonius Plicius, the Door Keeper of the Temple of the Order of the Scorpion, opened the door when he heard Colonel Lucian give the password. "Sire! It is an honor to have you here," said Plicius, glancing at the soldiers behind them. "Might I inquire as to why you honor us with your presence tonight?"
"It is the dawn of a new age, my friend," smiled Lucian. "The Order of the Scorpion has long served the Grand Imperium of Risban. Now it is time to be repayed for their service."
Plicius frowned slightly, and released what was about to happen all too late. Lucian had quickly drawn a small pistol, shooting Plicius and the two Lictors behind the door guard, killing all three. The Lictors outside instantly rose to action, raising their ceremonial swords in one hand and reaching for their firearms with the others. But, they were too late as well. The soldiers accompanying Lucian quickly took out AK-47s, shooting the ten Lictors in friend and several other Priests walking by.
"Let's get 'em, boys," grinned Lucian, pulling out a cigar as his soldiers marched into the stronghold, opening fire. He turned around, watching as men appeared on the machine guns of the humvees, opening fire on the defenses of the stronghold. Tanks began firing at the walls.
Lesson Number One in the Order of the Scorpion: The best way to destroy an enemy is to destroy from within.
Lictors fought as bravely as they could, but with the doors wide open, their usual defenses were useless. And, it seemed as if a whole battalion of soldiers had decided to attack.
A group of Lictors assigned to protected the Empress and young Viscount quickly got the pair to the hangar of the stronghold. They were placed in a helicopter and immediately set off, escorted by a whole fleet of Blackhawks. They departed the area, going away from the troops and to a small, secret airfield not too far away. The Empress needed to leave the country.
Aut vincere aut mori...
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Risban City
Alexander Perkins was the most well-known Risbanian name in the international community next to Scorpius. He was the High Minister of Foreign Affairs, and responsible for much of what the world had done. He negotiated treaties with tons of nations, helped mediate in conflicts, expanded trade, and represented Risban to the international community. He was one of the Emperor's closest friends.
Lucius Thrantir was the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, and was likely to take the place as Minister of Trade soon. He was a younger man, moving quickly through the ranks of the Imperial bureacracy. Perkins trusted him, but Perkins trusted a lot of people; it was his character.
Perkins was sitting at his table, looking at recent reports on happenings in the Imperial Armies region, Green Sun, Upper Xen, and several other nations. Things had been busy lately.
Thrantir walked in, smiling. "G'evening, Minister," said the Undersecretary, placing a document on Perkins' desk.
"What's this?" asked the Foreign Minister as he picked up the document.
"Your suicide note, of course," chuckled Thrantir casually. Then, quite uncasually, he removed a silenced pistol from his jacket and shot Alexander Perkins, the High Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Grand Imperium of Risban, twice in the head.
Assasination of the Emperor
Imperial Palace, Risban City-- The Chambers of the Emperor
Emperor Scorpius paced back and forth between his bed and the desk in his room, thinking furiously. The young emperor had not received much sleep lately. He was constantly monitering internal affairs of Risban, the affairs of close allies, and this monstrous war between the mightiest forces in this world.
The world was becoming a dangerous place, and it was worrying the Emperor.
Scorpius sighed, sitting back on his bed and trying to relax. He needed to sleep. His wife kept telling him that whenever they spoke over the telephone, as did his personal doctor. But how could he sleep? Politicians, many of them friends, had been dying lately in terrorist attacks and assasinations. There had even been an attempt on the Emperor's life! Imperial Palace had been assaulted... There was no rest.
No. Stop thinking. Sleep, Scorpius told himself. He closed his eyes, sighing. Just as he was about to drift off, a buzzer rain. Scorpius groaned and opened his eyes, hitting a button on his bedstand. "Come in."
The Emperor stood, turning to face the door. In strode Lord Richard Gaius Zorag, Chancellor of the Senate, and Grand General Charles Skops, the head of the military. What could it be now? They were followed by two other men.
"Welcome, gentlemen," said the Emperor, not bothering to smile. "What's up?"
"We have a situation, my lord," said Zorag. "It appears that your Lictors have betrayed the Grand Imperium and moved to assasinate you."
Emperor Scorpius frowned, an angered expression crossing his face. "What are you talking about?"
The two men who entered with Skops and Zorag stepped forward, each removing a dagger; daggers with the inscriptions of the Order of the Scorpion on their sides.
Scorpius' eyes widened. This was it. The Endgame. He had failed. The two assasins leaped forward at the Emperor, who quickly rolled back to dodge. Scorpius opened a drawer, withdrawing a small pistol. As he brought his hand up to aim at the two, General Skops turned and kicked his hand, sending the gun flying.
"You! Charles, I trusted you... You were suppose to help me!"
The Grand General sneered. "Help you with what? Your 'dreams' and visions for the future? For grandness? Equality? Please, Robinson," said the General, stepping back.
Lord Zorag stood, hands folded behind his back. This man, the ringleader of the Society of Shadows, grinned, his eyes staring maliciously at the Emperor. "You see, Scorpius," began the usurper. "People like you are the problem with this world. You dream and dream, and build and build, and still dreaming, all the while exhausting the rest of us. In order for our own preserverence, the dreamers like you must die."
"For your own power, you mean," glared Scorpius.
"You do not fear your death?" asked Zorag, a dark twinkle in his eye.
"Pulvis et umbra sumus," said the Emperor, raising his head. "Omnis una manet nox. If I die, so do you."
"No, my friend, that is where you are wrong," said Zorag, walking to the window and opening it. Far in the distance, across the megalopolis known as Risban City, was smoke, rising high into the sky. It was coming from about where the Lictor Stronghold was. "You see, my liege, everything for the past several years has been carefully planned out, all leading up to this. The grand finale. You will die, and the Parliament will name me Emperor."
"My brother takes the throne in my absence," said Scorpius, referring to the Duke Magnus Scorpius, CEO of ScorpCorp and High Minister of Business and Industry. "Not you."
"Your brother was coincidentally sent on a boat to Retreat Island in the Imperial Armies region to help deal with defenses there," smiled Zorag. "He'll be having a little accident soon, I believe. Anyways, you, your wife, and your son will all be dead, the Lictors will be wiped out, and I'll be in charge."
Scorpius' eyes widened. "No! Zorag, if you lay a single finger on Nora or Lucius, I will-"
"What? Come back and haunt me from the grave? Hahaha... Goodbye, Scorpius," said Zorag, raising a hand to the two assasins. "Long live the Emperor."
The assasins plunged their daggers repeatedly into the Scorpius, who stumbled towards the balcony. He wanted to scream, but he couldn't. He wanted to reach out to his wife and son, but he could not. He wanted to tell his friends to run and watch out, but they would not hear his warning. He stared out at Risban City, tears filling his eyes. It wasn't supposed to end like this.
Lord Zorag, General Skops, and the others left the room. Marcus Janus had taken care of surveillance, making it seem as if they were never there.
And Emperor Robinson Antares Scorpius, the Savior of Risban, fell back onto the cold marble floor of his room. His blood crawled across the ground around him. The Emperor stared up at the ceiling, choking on his blood as it filled his throat, looking at a picture of Risban under Heaven. The usual brightness and hopefulness of the picture had seemed to vanish.
The young Emperor grunted once. And then there was no more pain.
There was nothing.
An initial report was given the next day. The story was that the Imperial Lictors, blaming Scorpius for their removal from most government buildings, had turned on the one they were supposed to protect and killed them. This was followed by an uprising at the Lictor Stronghold that Colonel Christopher Lucian had gone to stop, razing the ancient building to the ground. Furthermore, it was reported that, under enourmous pressure lately, Alexander Perkins, Minister for Foreign Affairs, committed suicide in his office.
Members of the government are to make statements soon.